Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump and Vance unravels into an extraordinary clash
Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump and Vance unravels into an extraordinary clash
After the meeting, Trump said on his Truth Social website that Zelenskyy “is not ready” for peace and that he “disrespected” the U.S.
White House talks break down as Trump accuses Zelenskyy of ‘disrespecting’ US
White House talks between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy over ending the war between Moscow and Kyiv have broken down after the US president said his Ukrainian counterpart had “disrespected” America.
The dramatic and premature conclusion to the summit came after the two leaders clashed even before the start of their formal meeting, as the Ukrainian president’s bid to improve strained ties with Washington spectacularly backfired.
In a post on Truth Social following the meeting, Trump wrote: “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace.”
“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” he added.
During an earlier meeting in front of reporters in the Oval Office, Trump told Zelenskyy: “You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with world war three.”
Vice-president JD Vance said: “Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”
The Ukrainian leader responded: “Everybody has problems, even you but you have nice ocean and don’t feel [it] now, but you will feel it in the future.”
Zelenskyy has been seeking a seat at the negotiating table after Trump blindsided Kyiv and other European capitals by launching direct talks with Putin over ending the conflict.
The leaders had planned to use the meeting to sign a minerals deal that would set up a joint US-Ukrainian “investment fund” that would receive 50 per cent of all revenues from the “future monetisation” of natural resources owned by Kyiv.
Video of the full debacle: https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-meets-with-ukrainian-president-zelensky/656418
This wasn't a "clash", it was schoolyard-tier bullying by Trump and his lapdog Vance. I would however not expect the malicious and sycophantic American press to be honest about this.
It's hard to misrepresent this as anything but Trump throwing a tantrum.
And yet the American luegenpresse never fail to disappoint.
I have even more admiration for Zelenskyy after that. He kept his cool through the completely inappropriate behavior, while respectfully maintaining his stance. His commitment to his people over his own ego made him the only adult in the Oval Office today.
This was humiliating for Americans. I would’ve been less embarrassed had JD started fucking the Oval Office furniture.
Fucking hate this shit. Couldn’t watch it. I’m a Ukrainian living in the US.
Brings me some comfort to see many people on here agree that Trump is a fucking jackass.
I would go to some online forum for support, but I’m afraid of encountering some aggressive jackasses, saying something to the extent of “fuck Ukraine. We have our own problems.”
If someone has any words of support or something positive to say, I’m here for it, because this is depressing.
"I heard it from Putin."
That's really what was going on there.
Just a guy from the UK here. But this was horrific to watch, I felt for him and all Ukrainians. We stand with you. We will fight with you. We support you. My family fought in WW2 because it was the right thing to do, not because there was money in it or because we were next, but because it was right. We will do it again if necessary.
This means so much to me just to know that there are people who feel this way. Can’t tolerate all the negativity towards Ukraine anymore. Some people don’t know what they’re talking about, but just like being angry about shit. But my relatives are there! So yea, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for these words!
Man, this must really fucking suck for you, I'm sorry. I can only imagine how Zelenskyy feels leaving that room, I feel really bad.
Kind words are not going to work any more. Americans need to get their house in order. If the majority of American should have voted against Cheeto and this wouldn't be happening. That didn't happen so now you need to protest, get out there and show Elmo and Trump that this isn't what you want. Force him to step down and get someone else in, this is nuts.
I’m sorry. There’s a lot of us that agree with you and are disgusted by this. This was hard to watch - I’ve never seen a US president act so childish when given the opportunity to oppose an ACTUAL dictator.
Any true American knows that Putin is a threat to the world and democracy. He won’t just stop with Ukraine.
Trump and Vance are cowards in the face of real evil.
I figured that I must not be the only one who thought that Trump’s behavior was disguisting. Thank you for reminding that you feel the same. It’s just that with all these loud dumbasses who think that it’s not their war to fight makes me wonder if people remember how WWII started. I really do hope that most of the world is sane though.
I checked over at /r/conservative and was surprised that even the majority there seemed to be ashamed by what happened. Though there were some of the blowhards you describe too.
Well I’m glad that it at least backfired somewhat. Although I thought that his supporters liked it when he’s being a bully.
In truth though, I feel like America has never looked this weak.
I had to donate to United24, because, what else can I do?
That is awesome of you. Thank you.
Does anyone know if they still take BTC?
I'd like to donate my wallet, but I don't see that option on the site and the posts about BTC donations are a couple years old.
It's a somewhat substantial amount and I want to make sure that it's still an active wallet and not abandoned or wasted.
My mother is a very sweet, kind-hearted woman who taught me to lead with empathy, to always try to find common humanity with people I think are wrong. She was so upset by Trump and Vance over this that she said she hopes these "evil mother fuckers burn in hell."
Her words and my words are meager, but please know you're not alone. I don't know what's next, but I hope we can find the path together.
Your mom is awesome and so are you!
Brit here. Слава України! Ви любов вас. Моя сімʼя і Я надія that you prevail.
You have a beautiful country and people. Don’t lose hope. I hope that Europe and the UK find a solution that gives Ukraine the edge to push them back.
I’ve wanted us (fwiw) to put boots on the ground in UKR for a long time despite Putin’s threats. Pretty sure the Polish do too.
Все нас любов. Excuse the crap learner Ukrainian.
Thank you for the kind words. I really hope that other countries won’t have a to put their boots on the ground. This war is bloody enough. I just really hope that Ukraine will finally get enough weapons already. But I really appreciate your words.
Heroyam slava!
I had to fight the urge to pop that cunt in the nose through my phone the entire time and I'm a non violent rational taoist. I havnt felt like that since before I was 20.
If he is ever in Australia, I will be taking the opportunity to clock him in the jaw or at least throw a shoe.
Edit: I should add, some of us down under have a knack for getting past security lines/security is very lax here even when world leaders are here. Look up what 'The Chaser' did when APEC or whatever it was called was here years ago. Or the bloke telling the pm to get off his front yard, or the bloke who head butt the previous pm.
It was always going to end like this, Krasnov is operating to procedure.
Wow, to watch Zelenskyy's face fall when he realized there was no intention of trump doing anything for Ukraine. He was trying to fix shit in his head, but I don't think he got there.
Vance is a turd.
My dad, a Canadian living in Asia, is a trump supporter. This is exactly how our conversions go over the phone until I hang up.
I couldn't watch this all the way through. When we argue its just bullshit. Zelenskyy has peoples lives on the line and there's no talking to trump. I feel so bad, how I feel after getting off the phone must be nothing like how Zelenskyy feels right now.
I'm transcribing it so people don't have to watch. CSPAN has deleted some of the texts, so I'm not positive it will have everything, but I can't bear to check everything. I know to check if they misspell a word fantastically though, that's probably a tell.
I watched this train wreck. Didn't try to transcribe, so I might have small errors. Essence first, emotions later.
Trump:
- claims (falsely) that previous presidents didn't help Ukraine
- contradicts oneself, claiming that Biden was too hardline on Russia
- claims that Obama didn't give any military assistance to Ukraine (but Obama did)
- claims that he gave Javelin ATGMs to Ukraine (could be true, as Trump did try to blackmail Zelensky with 0.4 billions worth of military aid, while Biden didn't try to blackmail with 60 billions - it's almost certain that Biden gave a thousand times more Javelins and other useful systems)
- claims that the words of a US president aren't worth so much as to deter Russia
- again mis-states the volume of US economic and military assistance to Ukraine as 380 billion or something
- says that Zelensky needs to be thankful and is being disrespectful
- behaves disrespectfully, claiming Zelensky is not allowed to speak, continues ranting
- claims that Ukraine "hasn't got the cards" and is going to lose
- claims that Zelensky is "gambling with World War 3" (note: Ukraine is defending itself)
Zelensky:
- doesn't get to speak as Trump rants
- manages to say that he is thankful to the US
- says that he already had a ceasefire with Putin, which he personally signed in 2019 with Merkel and Macron also present, and Putin broke the ceasefire
- says he wants a ceasefire with guarantees
- says that Ukraine isn't going to lose
Vance:
- says Zelensky isn't thankful enough in this room here and now
Opinion:
A carefully orchestrated verbal agression by Trump and Vance. Zelensky was not given opportunity to present his point of view, which is very rare in diplomacy (this probably isn't diplomacy). He's in the damn White House, he's not going to shout.
Result:
Zelensky walked away without signing the mineral resources treaty. Fully understandable for bystanders. Foreseeable by Trump - perhaps the goal of this tirade.
Good writeup but I really want to emphasize this:
claims that Zelensky is “gambling with World War 3” (note: Ukraine is defending itself)
That likely is going to be the angle putin wants pushed and it has been there from the start. Many people won't remember, but in the days before the war started there were plenty of voices (on both sides) insisting that nobody should help Ukraine because it might cause WW3. Same with the calls for a no fly zone in the following weeks.
It wasn't explicitly said (by anyone but the most compromised of republicans and tankies...), but it was very heavily implied that Ukraine needed to die so that "we" didn't have WW3. And I fully expect those to ramp up from all sides because...
the US doesn't want to help Ukraine because putin doesn't want us to.
And Europe is going to be consolidating forces and getting ready for the next invasions on EU territory.
I like that you think Trump and Babs could carefully coordinate anything, they just shouted him down.
If I heard right trump said at one point he didn't know what was going on with the whole ukraine war situation.
Watching America collapse in real time.
And we're going to take down everyone else that we can.
Which will mostly impact Canada and Ukraine. Other nations will suffer economic losses, which will cause periods of global instability. Most will have to adapt to the new multi-polar world and watch to see how quickly and how far America slides
Will democracy return? Will the Fascism escalate? We'll see.
I am so fucking sick of this pathetic piss baby bullshit. This fucking traitor and his cock holster have no right to disparage Zelenskyy, whilst polishing putins knob and trying to blackmail an ally into giving away their countries natural fucking resources. The level of treacherous, inane bullshit being spouted by these stupid fascist fucking fucks comes across like it's from some poorly written trash novel trying to really spell it out for the reader how absurdly terrible these people are.
I tell ya, I'm this close to volunteering for the fight in Ukraine myself, just so I have a chance to literally fight fascism, because the idea of sitting on my hands any longer is becoming detrimental to my health.
Blackmail is coercion by using the threat of exposing evidence of wrongdoing. Extortion is coercion by the exertion of inappropriate leverage; for example a "protection racket" is a form of extortion whereby a criminal organization guarantees protection (often from itself) in return for payment.
Kids are growing up and watching their President behave this way on TV, not knowing any other. The US are cooked for generations.
I don't think the US survives this honestly.
I agree. The US is nothing more than a stumbling zombie at this point.
I sure hope not
This depresses the ever loving fuck out of me as a father. When I was a kid, I genuinely looked up to the president, and the thought that if I worked hard, I could conceivably (with very slim odds) be president one day. Now, my kids will see that the way to succeed is to lie, cheat, steal, and grift. It's fucking disgusting.
Trump never planned to make an agreement with Ukraine. The agreement, as one-sided as it was in the US’ favor, was getting close to becoming reality, so Trump torpedoed it in order to appease Putin.
The whole meeting was pure propaganda, it's why it was so openly streamed live, even though there was no intention of signing the deal.
I will provide a propagandistic casus belli. Its credibility doesn't matter. The victor will not be asked whether he told the truth. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_in_Nazi_Germany#In_power_(1933–1939)
Especially easy to do after the Trump administration purged media dissenters
Trump and Zelenskiy press conference is canceled. Zelenksiy leaves White House early after contentious meeting with Trump.
Kinda surreal to hear a president say unironically, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Hillary Clknton, Obama in quick succession with no actual thought.
"Bing bing bong bong bing bing."
The weave, everybody!
He's just firing off the residents living rent-free in his dome. My god, that dude has a thing for Hunter Biden.
Trump broke Budapester Memorandum + Trump was giving Putin the start signal for the war. You cant trust terrorists
I just watched the last half of the full meeting. Zelensky asked what guarantees there are the Russians won't just invade again. The subtext of which is an offer to house US troops in Ukraine. But all the fucking clown car heard was a challenge to their machismo.
So they shouted him down and just loudly asserted he would either sign their deal or fight it out. Along the way they manage to insult him by treating him like a child and pretending that previous broken agreements, (invasion of Crimea, Invasion of Donetsk, and Invasion of Ukraine) were because Putin didn't respect the American President enough. But Putin is also the victim in all of this according to Trump.
I've seen better diplomacy from a high school football team.
For more subtext, if there were any real guarantees then this would not have happened in the meeting with the press. Zelensky would have told reporters there were guarantees. This entire blow up means that Trump already told him there would be no guarantees other than the honor system. Which, even if Trump is right, (Putin respects Trump and won't invade while he's president), Zelensky knows that means Putin will invade again in 2028 after Trump's term is over. And that's without getting into all of the implications about Putin holding this over Trump's head for concessions so Trump can appear to be the peacemaker.
I agree with Trump on one thing. We're fucking around with World War 3, but Trump isn't a peacemaker, he's Chamberlain. Right down to berating the leaders who are asking for help to stop the aggressive country.
This is what happens when your leaders are too stupid to understand diplomacy. It's also what happens when they're working for the interests of Putin.
working for the interests of Putin.
I seriously don't understand the endgame here. I know wealthy elites and war criminals don't seem to have borders, and just grow like an invasive fungus wherever is favorable, but the entire reason this prick even ran was just to avoid jail for his numerous crimes in the USA.
What does he get if he gives Putin everything? What does he get if the USA just friggin' collapses? What does he get if he starts WWIII? Do he and his bully cohorts retire to Switzerland or something? Hide out in hidden mansions in South America?
What is the motivation for this absolute insanity?!
I know rightoidism is a death cult, but is the plan to literally Judgement Day the planet or create an unstoppable Russo-Chinese world duopoly or what?!
Yes, actually the plan literally is to Judgement Day the planet.
"The Bible predicts the final world conflict will happen on the plain of Megiddo in Israel when the superpowers assemble together to do battle," he explained. "Well, I think we can see now how a regional conflict could quickly escalate into a worldwide conflict. And that is going to happen one day."
Aren't you glad you asked?
Fucking hell, what a bunch of clowns this administration is.
Guess it’s just a matter of time now before Putin says fuck it and goes all out on land grabs. Clearly these dipshits never bothered to educate themselves on the escalation of WW2….
A lovely little display for Russian state media to play out tonight. "Look at the west fighting themselves, soon the war will be over!"
Look at the part where he says it's "disrespectful to THIS country". I think he had to catch himself there to stop him saying it's disrespectful to someone else. Like anyone involved in the mob, you invoke the name of your boss and let them know he's unhappy when you are trying to intimidate someone.
It's up to you now, Europe.
If only it were just that simple. Now, whenever there is an election here, we gotta deal with russian, Chinese and US state interference...
You can't keep playing defense forever
Do we have realtime cameras watching from space ? In case someone still plays with lead soldiers and paper planes ...
Beyond furious with Trump and Vance.
‘Zelensky’s meeting with turd and soup degenerates into shitfight as turd shits himself and falls off his chair while VP soup almost chokes on his own tongue and has to be resuscitated by marshals’
This 2 idiots ganged up on him
This seriously felt like being yelled at and talked down to by tryhard managers at some shitty retail job.
They just bust right out the gate with rambling, they're so upset, they demand respect, you need to apologize, you should be grateful, followed by 50 rapidfire questions so they can say "SEE. I'M RIGHT BECAUSE YOU STRUGGLED TO ANSWER." blah blah blah.
Treating a part-time employee like that should get your teeth kicked in. Treating a world leader like that?! MAN.
He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office
That sounds like pure projection to me, isn’t it unsurprising that anything he thinks he’s calling out other people on is about himself?
I honestly think, were they here today, everyone who penned the Declaration would consider this douchebag's shoe prints to be more a desecration to the office than if King George III waltzed in and took a dump on the desk.
That sounds like pure projection to me.
This republican rhetoric is shockingly smoothbrained isn't it? Their entire propaganda strategy is to blame everyone else for distasteful things they're literally in the middle of commiting themselves.
This is shameful!
' The art of the deal'
Haven't read it but here's my guess as to its contents:
Chapter 1: "Repeat yourself and rant and scream and claim how offended you are from an (imagined) mighty position of power while demanding more respect and groveling."
Chapter 2: "Keep repeating your demands to warp reality like some Jedi mind trick until your opponent is so psychologically worn down from your broken record-like diatribe increasing in volume, they give in."
Chapter 3: "If they finish a sentence, you've already lost"
The rest of the book is blank.
Haven't read
Neither has Trump.
His ghostwriter did his best with the limited information Trump gave him to work with.
Krasnov gonna krasnov.
hell is empty and all the devils are here
I can hardly watch this. Fills me with anxiety
To me it looks like they are putting up a show for whatever reasons, i believe the deal governments have don't get discussed in public and are already on the table.
Here's NATO activity we know of in the black sea as of yesterday:
https://www.itamilradar.com/2025/02/27/intense-nato-air-activity-in-the-black-sea-area/
I've read about this too. There was a French AWACS plane with its fighter escort taking a look at Crimea from distance. And later, there was a visit by an US Navy plane that can drop sonar buoys and assorted stuff. I missed the Italian electronic warfare plane, reading about it now.
Russian sources have been speculating that an Ukrainian strike usually comes within days of such a visit.
I think the military are doing their stuff regardless of politicians, as long as politicians (read: Trump) won't forbid them.
Looks to me like Trump pulling the emergency break on the resources deal and at the same time manufacturing a reason to pull support from Ukraine and NATO.
When i look at US and NATO activities trump talking about pulling support sound like a joke to me
The orange clown was cranky. Clearly he needed to go to sleep. I don't understand why they are so angry at Zelensky. Right? They should be like riding the freedom wave with Zelensky... "Proving" to everyone how good the Republicans are. Instead they are arguing or whatever the fuck their mouth noises were about. It was fucking funny. Like watching the Koreans fight it out in Congress. The Mexicans literally have never had a shit show like that since Zedillo. Even then there was not much of a shit show.
Yeah, we're sooo fucked. I'd pull out all and any investment I still have anywhere in the US. Monday is gonna be a black stock dropping Monday.
I kinda want more articles about what people are saying. Like I get that Trump did X and we aught to know about it - but what about the people on Truth Social? Is it just a powerful echo chamber or?
Edit: yes, I say this because I feel like vomiting when I think of visiting that place.
Since when did you need to be thanked for doing the rift thing?